A two-day tribute event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the renowned Odissi dance guru Kelucharan Mahapatra was held at the Indian Museum. Dona Ganguly’s organization, Diksha Manjari, led the initiative, which included dancers and dance troupes from diverse genres.

Diksha Manjari, the celebrated Odissi dance institution established by acclaimed dancer Dona Ganguly, held this two-day tribute at the Indian Museum to honor the centenary birth anniversary of the legendary guru Kelucharan Mahapatra. The event was jointly organized with the Indian Museum.

Kelucharan Mahapatra was one of Dona Ganguly’s dance teachers. In fact, the founding of Diksha Manjari stemmed from his vision: he envisioned an institution in Kolkata dedicated to the practice of dance. Though the name ‘ Diksha Manjari’ had not yet been adopted at that time, the institution was ultimately founded through Dona Ganguly’s initiative. Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra frequently visited the institution to lead workshops. However, this two-day tribute event showcased performances not only of Odissi but also of several other dance forms by renowned artists and institutions.

Eminent participants on the first day included Diksha Manjari, Madhavi Mudgal, Sharmila Biswas, Sujata Mahapatra, and Aruna Mohanty (Odissi); Purnima Ghosh, Poly Guha, and Alokananda Roy (Rabindra Nritya); Ashimbandhu Bandyopadhyay (Kathak); and Kohinoor Sen Barat (Creative Dance).

Amazing performances on the second day featured Dona Ganguly, Sana Ganguly, Raghunath Das, the troupe from Diksha Manjari, Ratikanta Mahapatra, Aloka Kanungo, Rajib Bhattacharya, Pranati Mohanty (Odissi), Sujatha Ramalingam, Malabika Sen (Bharatanatyam), Amita Dutt (Kathak), Tanusree Shankar (Creative), and Bimbavati Devi (Manipuri), among others.

Dona Ganguly said, “I began learning dance in my childhood. It was a great privilege for me to have the opportunity to train under Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra for an extended period. Guruji also led dance workshops at our institution, Diksha Manjari. This institution was founded as per his wishes; he desired an institute in Kolkata where he could practice dance. It was not long before Diksha Manjari was nearing its twenty-fifth anniversary. For this event, we brought in dance masters and institutions showcasing a range of dance styles. We are pleased that gurus from various dance styles, along with their institutions, took part in this festival. This is a heartfelt tribute from all of us on the occasion of the birth centenary of the legendary dancer and Guru, Kelucharan Mahapatra”.

A great event to pay tribute to an amazing Odissi dance guru.

Priyanka Dutta